By Edward Pentin
National Catholic Register, Dec 11, 2024 / 17:35 pm
An Italian association of LGBT Christians has received official Vatican approval to make a pilgrimage to next year’s jubilee in Rome, although the Vatican’s jubilee organizers neither support nor oppose the event, and the figures behind it are declining to comment.
The association called La Tenda di Gionata (“Jonathan’s Tent”) has asked its members to “save the date” — Sept. 6, 2025, at 3 p.m. — and invited “all associations and groups dedicated to supporting LGBT+ individuals and their families to join us as we officially cross the Holy Door of the jubilee at St. Peter’s Basilica.”
In the evening, the LGBT pilgrims, their parents, and pastoral workers have been invited to a Mass at the Jesuit Church of the Gesù, the historic baroque church in central Rome, celebrated by the vice president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Francesco Savino. The Gesù will also host a prayer vigil for the pilgrims the evening before.
Jubilee 2025, which begins with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24 and runs until Jan. 6, 2026, is expected to attract 32 million pilgrims to Rome from around the world who will be able to receive a plenary indulgence and attend a variety of spiritual and cultural events.
Agnese Palmucci, an official spokesman for the jubilee, told the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, that the La Tenda di Gionata association proposed making a pilgrimage to the Holy Door and so it has been “included in the general calendar as a pilgrimage, along with all the other pilgrimages that other dioceses will make.”
“It is not a jubilee event sponsored or organized by us,” Palmucci continued.
Embark on a spiritual journey like no other with this unique pilgrimage organized by an association that welcomes all dioceses, bodies, and associations to partake in the pilgrimage in their own way.
Italian daily, Il Messaggero, has described this upcoming event as an “absolute novelty” that showcases a shift in pastoral care towards marginalized groups. The planned pilgrimage in 2025 will include a day dedicated to pilgrims from the LGBTQIA+ community, a gesture that was unimaginable just a few years ago.
Francis DeBernardo, from the LGBT advocacy website New Ways Ministry, expressed his deep emotions upon hearing this news. He reflected on the resistance faced by the LGBTQ+ community during the 2000 jubilee in Rome and highlighted the significant progress made since then. This development signifies a gradual change in how LGBTQ+ individuals are welcomed and accepted within the Catholic community.
Despite some criticism, this initiative has been praised for its inclusivity and progressive approach. The Catholic daily La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana has acknowledged the importance of these events in fostering a more accepting and compassionate community. This pilgrimage is a reminder of the strides we have made towards embracing diversity and creating a more inclusive environment for all.
